DFA OFW Lane – Exclusive Courtesy Lanes for OFWs

Great news for OFWs in a rush for passport! The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) announced recently that they will convert the DFA Robinsons Galleria satellite office exclusive for OFWs only. This will help our OFWs to get faster passport processing and other foreign services.

Are you an OFW and you hate the long lines and long months of online appointment schedules because you need to return abroad as soon as possible? Well then, the DFA will now allow all OFWs without appointments to process their passports.

The DFA OFW Lane in Robinsons Galleria is located just across the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) in EDSA so if you are an OFW and you are processing your papers and documents at the POEA and you have other passport matters, you can walk along EDSA and cross the street to go the DFA in Robinsons Galleria.

DFA OFW Courtesy Lanes

When will this exclusive DFA OFW Lane be opened for OFWs? The DFA satellite office in Robinsons is still under conversion and will be opened hopefully this 2016. In the meantime, OFWs can rely on OFW Courtesy Lanes at the DFA Aseana located at ASEANA Business Park, at Bradco Avenue corner Macapagal Boulevard, Parañaque City.

DFA OFW Lane Requirements

No online appointment required for OFWs, thank God.

OFWs are required to bring the primary documents needed for passport processing or passport renewal such a copy of Birth Certificate, valid ID and old passport. The DFA also has strict request for OFW documents such as Employment Contract (OEC),Exit Clearance and plane tickets. If you have no clearance yet, just go to the POEA office, it is across DFA Robinsons Galleria.

To sum up, the DFA don’t have OFW lanes for all of its satellite offices nationwide. Perhaps, during President Duterte’s term, this will be possible. Let us see. In the meantime, just check out the updates for these two DFA offices:

DFA Aseana OFW Lane (open)

DFA Robinsons Galleria OFW Lane (will be opened soon)

Reminders for OFW Getting Passport:

For OFWs, sufficient proof must be submitted such as a valid employment contract or OEC.

Earrings and contact lenses are not allowed during data capturing. Smiling with visible teeth is also not allowed.

Check all the data in the computer monitor and in the Enrollment Certificate before signing it.

Passports unclaimed after six (6) months will be cancelled per Department Order No. 37-03.

Check all data in the received e-passport upon release.

DFA may require additional supporting documents as may be necessary, especially for applicants with dual citizenship and with foreign-sounding family names to prove citizenship.

DFA OFW Passport Fees:

For First time passport applicants:

Regular Processing (15 working days): P950.00

Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For Renewal of passport applicants:

Regular Processing (12 working days): P950.00

Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For Replacement of a lost expired passport:

Regular Processing (12 working days): P950.00

Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For Replacement of a lost valid passport:

Regular Processing (12 working days): P950.00

Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

Please take note that there is an additional fee of P200.00 for a lost valid MRRP / MRP or P350.00 for a lost valid e-passport.

Share your experience and views about DFA OFW Lanes below at the comments.

Greetings!
Just want to know if EX-OFWs can use this priority lane? Since they mentioned only for OFW. I Assumed that its only for newly hired and balik manggagawa having expired or need to renew. Thanks.

Hello I’m an OFW from Dubai may last arrival feb.5 2018 and get married here in Philippines last March 6 2018, i was cancelled and no contract ,i am consider in priority lane? I have to renew my passport to change my status, and my husband nagmamadali na makabalik ako my Dubai please answer thank you very much

I am an ofw from qatar. I went for vacation last month and take time to renew my passport. I went to Robinson Galleria for the said purpose since i didn’t able to make an online appointment.
My experience their was very good. Mabilis ang proseso at magagalang ang staff from counters to security guards. They will really assist you of your need.
Salamat sa DFA sattelite office ng Galleria at sa mga taong nangangasiwa dun. Keep up the good work. Godbless.

Hi po Sir Ronnie, just few questions I hope you can help me. Is your passport validity less than 6 months? Cause I’m going for my annual leave this coming April 1 and coming back to UAE by May 1 but my passport expiration is on Aug 16, 2018, its less than 6 months. I’m worried maybe I will encounter problem with the UAE Immig or Philippine Immig. I’m also worried how I will renew my passport back home since I was trying to book an appointment but April month is already full but your comment here gave me a relief. I will go there and do the same but if you can advise me what other requirements they need to accomodate me as OFW. Thanks you in advance.

Hi, I am currently working in Malaysia. Pages of my e-passport is almost used up but my passport is still valid till 2018. Passport renewal in Malaysia will take 1~2 months. As I plan to go back to manila for 3~4 days, I would like to renew my passport as well. Can I request for earlier release of the passport? I can’t stay more than 3-4 days. Please advice.

Hi good morning! I am an OFW here in Thailand. I am planning to bring my sons here just for a vacation. But their passports had already expired. My sons are still of minor age but ages 14 15 and 16. And I am planning to renew their passport when I go home this March 2017. We live in the province and it’s difficult to have an appointment in Manila as a I am not sure of what date I can really go home and that ‘s only good for two weeks. Can we be accommodated in the OFW priority lane without an app0nitment?

Hi! Just want to ask if a photocopy of employment contract would be enough to support my docs to renew my passport? My agency is not giving original copy of employment contract. They will just give a photocopy of it.

Is there any priority lane at oceana or any branches for new seafarer (MAAP – maritime academy of asia and the pacific cadet) since they only have limited time to apply during their semestral break? need ASAP reply mam coz they are on semestral break vacation as of yesterday and scrambling/looking for available OL appointment which happened to have no more available slot in NCR ànd nearby regional branches/offices til 1st week of december 2016.

hi.. im locally employed but will be travelling to singapore for a month. i wanted to bring my husband and 3year old daughter however both of them has no passport. will i be able to use the courtesy lane.. appreciate your feedback.. TIA

The courtesy Lane mentioned in the article are for OFWs. All DFA has courtesy lanes, too for pregnant women, senior citizens and PWD (person with disability). If you are not under those categories, you can’t use those lanes

hi ask ko lang po kasi im currently applying for a job abroad but their requirement is to have a valid passport 1 yr before the expiry date,mine will expire this coming 11/2016.i already submitted my documents but they are still waiting for my passport,per agency if i dont give them my renewed passport within august I will not be included for final interview.I s it possible that i go to DFA aseana even i dont have an appointment?i dont have contract yet,i can only provide birth certificate and old passport..